Lady Tigers qualify 16 for SEC finals

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Mar 2, 2008

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It’s been nearly a decade since the LSU women claimed a team title at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Nine years, to be exact, since the Lady Tigers ruled.

If Saturday was an indication, the drought could end today.

The top-ranked Lady Tigers, the reigning SEC outdoor champs, put on a clinic Saturday in Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Track Center.

LSU made quite a statement by qualifying 16 athletes in five preliminary events — including a staggering five in the 200 meters — for the final day of the meet today.

The Lady Tigers advanced four runners for the 800 final and got three athletes into the 60 meters and 60-meter hurdles finals. For good measure, they added one qualifier in the 400.

“I thought they competed extremely well (Saturday),” LSU coach Dennis Shaver said. “We had a lot of personal best performances, not only on the track but in the long jump (finals) as well.

“They have to remember that (Sunday) is a new track meet. They have positioned themselves where at least they have a shot at it. But they have to do well (today).”

The LSU men weren’t to be outdone.

The fourth-ranked Tigers also had a strong day, qualifying 10 athletes for today’s finals — including three in the 800 and two in the mile.

John Kosgei became the first LSU athlete to win the 3,000 meters when he outraced two Arkansas runners to win in 7 minutes, 57.76 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in SEC indoor meet history.

Both LSU teams were in sixth place with 14 points after five of 17 finals. Arkansas leads both races, with the Lady Backs piling up 58 points and the Razorbacks collecting 46.

All of the Lady Tigers’ points came in the field events. Andrea Linton and Katelyn Rodrigue placed third in the long jump and pole vault, respectively, with marks of 20 feet, 10 inches and 13-4‰. Linton’s mark is an automatic NCAA qualifier.